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Deer Valley

It’s all in the details at No. 3-ranked Deer Valley, a fact not lost on our shrewd readers. After all, you don’t get No. 1 rankings in Service, Access, On-Mountain Food, Lodging, and Dining (and No. 2 in Grooming) without making darn sure all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. (Or, in Deer Valley’s case, the emulsions are properly emulsified and the reductions are sufficiently reduced.) Says one satisfied customer, “It’s hard to find something wrong when the resort constantly pays attention to every last detail to ensure that every guest has the best possible experience.” Once again, we’re salivating while perusing reader comments, from the “amazing turkey chili” to the “delicious pastries” baked in-house. Readers are less effusive when it comes to issues of the wallet (Value, No. 41). “Very spendy, but hey, once a year!” Visitors’ perceptions of the resort’s terrain continue to be grim, with Variety coming in at No. 35 and Challenge No. 40. But one reader thinks he’s got it dialed: “Deer Valley is so famous for its grooming that everyone skis the groomed runs. There’s no one on the ungroomed blacks. Except me!” With Overall Satisfaction coming in at a respectable No. 5, he’s not the only one pleased with the Deer Valley experience. “If I go to heaven when I die, it will be a demotion.”

Family Experience

Dinner isn’t usually an “experience” per se, but Fireside Dining, at Empire Canyon Lodge, is the exception. Swiss raclette, leg of lamb, soups, stews, and a chocolate fondue to die for.

Must Do

While you’re in town, Kimball Arts Center, in downtown Park City, is a ski-town cultural gem.

Mandatory Run

Take in the views of the Jordanelle Reservoir from Tycoon or Stein’s Way, off the Sultan chair. Tahoe-esque.

The ideal family ski day is the perfect mix of slopes, sweets, and sleds. Right this way!

9 a.m.: The continental breakfast at Silver Lake Lodge has something for everyone, with cereals, pastries, and a delicious house-made cheddar biscuit with bacon and egg. From there it’s a quick ride up Quincy Express to Flagstaff Mountain’s family-embracing greens and blues.